ROSELAND, NJ - For the past 11 weeks, residents ofRoseland have been debating who it was that sent out a postcard to the entire town, using the Roseland Borough Hall as a return address. The postcard appeared to most residents as if it was coming from the town administration itself.

At the meeting of the Roseland Governing Body, on Tuesday, Sept. 19, Mayor John Duthieheld up the postcard and pointedly told resident Claudia Reis that it was she who sent out the postcard, while also arguing that the statements she has been making online against the administration are not true.

While we're on the subject of being truthful, it's come to the attention of the Governing Body that you had sent out a postcard to the entire community using the Borough's mailing address as a return address....everybody knows this. We called the company; they said 'Claudia Reis orchestrated this.' It includes the town mailing address, not yours, so it looked like it came from us when it did not." ~ Roseland Mayor John Duthie

At that same meeting, Roseland Councilman Richard Leonard broke into the Mayor's statement expressing that he was "thrilled" with any notice that "gets the public involved in the decision making" of the town and that when he looked at the postcard he saw the return address as announcing the location of the meeting.

When Councilman Mark Vidovich asked Leonard, "So it's okay if someone uses your business address?" the councilman did not answer.

Reis did not reply at all to the Mayor's statements and walked away from the podium.

Following the meeting, West Essex Now repeatedly contacted Reis asking if there was any truth to the mayor's assertions; there was no response.

During the afternoon of Thursday, Oct. 19, Reis wrote on Facebook that the reason she did not use her home address on a postcard sent to the entire town was because she's been called a variety of derogatory names on social media.

I can't imagine why I just wouldn't givethe entire town my address.And just so I am clear. . .the information disseminated on the postcard was not fraudulent.It was actually quite accurate." ~ Claudia Reis

When pressed further, Reis ultimately admitted to sending out the postcard, and paying for it herself. She also echoed Leonard's explanation for the return address being used, that it was simply the location of the meeting.

Credit: Carolyne Volpe Curley

I didn't respond to the Mayor's questionsabout whether I sent the postcard​because he repeatedly saidthat it was me.So there was no need to answer. "~ Claudia Reis